Hey, Dude, Where's My Collusion?

Really?

Tabloid Publisher’s Deal in Hush-Money Inquiry Adds to Trump’s Danger

Yeah, yeah, and Al Capone was busted for tax evasion. More to the point, Richard Nixon was busted for (among other things) campaign finance irregularities. But for heaven's sake - the Watergate investigation started with irrefutable evidence of a break-in at DNC headquarters, which we all understand to be a crime. Not to mention that Nixon wondering whether the CIA could head off the FBI investigation looked a lot like obstruction and an abuse of Presidential power.

But Trump and Cohen? For better or worse, paying off former Playmates and playmates is not a crime. As to whether the actual mechanism violated campaign finance rules, well, first of all, that is why Trump hired lawyers. Lacking evidence that Cohen advised Trump this was illegal and Trump ordered him to go full speed ahead anyway, where is the criminal intent? And a perceived lack of criminal intent is why Hillary is not serving time for her server shenanigans.

This is a crime so subtle that charging it looks like yet another interminable NFL booth review of a sideline catch, where replay officials host a seance to determine the location of various body parts relative to ground and sideline and then enlist diviners to judge whether the receiver was juggling the ball, had firm possession, engaged in a football move, or whatever.

Even top Democrats admit that this campaign finance thing is iffy:

If the campaign finance case as laid out by prosecutors is true, [incoming House Judiciary Chair] Mr. Nadler said, Mr. Trump would be likely to meet the criteria for an impeachable offense, and he said he would instruct his committee to investigate when he takes over in January.

But he added that did not necessarily mean that the committee should vote to impeach Mr. Trump. “Is it serious enough to justify impeachment?” he asked. “That is another question.”

Democrats can use it as a tack-on to their central charge of "Orange Hair Bad".

Comments

[Tom R]

Tom R: that link re the DIA papers affirms my "belief" that military intelligence is the backbone of POTUS' strategy to take down the Deep State.

We are on the same sheet of music. It was the first thought that crossed my mind when I read it. It also reinforces Thomas Wictor's conjecture from several months ago that LTG Flynn was running a sting operation.

i think the use of military tribunals are imminent

A commenter on CTH wrote that one of Trump's Executive Orders that involves the use of military tribunals goes into effect on 9 January 2019. They didn't include a citation and I haven't been able to find anything to back that up. Anyone heard any chatter along that lines?

[Account Deleted]

CH: duly noted for any further exchanges. :D

"culturally insensitive"? not at all. personal taste in music and the arts is forever personal in my book. the politicization of music and the arts, as with everything else that is a matter of personal choice, is one of the enduring losses of simple freedoms in this country. no worries!

Cha

[Captain Hate]

Tom has pointed out, factually, that investigations are going on from which no leaks have emerged. We don't know that they'll yield anything or if they're even being conducted by people that should be trusted.

I still have a problem that the FBI OIG Report had a summary that enabled Schumer to prance in front of the cameras saying "nothing to see here" even though the body of the report stated otherwise. I think Sessions did a half assed job of draining the swamp which he oversaw.

[MissMarple2]

Tom R,

I have read similar stuff on military tribunals, but I haven't seen anything to back it up.

The question about their legality came up in the Kavenaugh hearings, and he affirmed they were legal because we are still in a state of war (a little detail a lot of democrats have forgotten).

[jimmyk]

From late last night, Tom R:
Maybe it was their comments at the 2:19 mark where they explicitly said they provided their evidence to the FBI and they explicitly said the FBI is conducting an investigation into the Clinton Foundation out of the Little Rock office.

Except that a few minutes later they acknowledged that there were not explicitly told there was an investigation, only that the FBI people in Little Rock thanked them for their information. For all we know they took that info and shredded it. I'm agnostic on the subject.

[henry]

John Podhoretz
‏Verified account @jpodhoretz

So there are non-disparagement clauses in the severance packages being given to the staffers at the Weekly Standard.

I'm not a staffer.

There will be much disparagement in this space and elsewhere, and factual disparagement as well.

https://twitter.com/jpodhoretz/status/1073610064827695106?s=12

[Tom R]

He's overly argumentative in support of a lifetime creep who personifies the excesses of the Deep State, based on a brief meeting with DJT prior to his appointment as Special Counsel in which nobody knows what happened.

Agree with the bolded part. That means there is a HUGE unknown variable that everyone should be factoring into their opinion about what is going on with the Mueller SC.

I would still like to know why Trump didn't fire Rosenstein when he fired Sessions. If the Mueller SC is a "witch hunt", why hasn't Whitaker shut it down? Why is Trump saying nice things about Rosenstein in public that create the perception he likes him? I can't figure out how to connect those dots myself.

[Narciso79]

Was it the staffers didn't agree with what anschultz wanted I don't understand this.

[Narciso79]

Because you can't attack the minefield directly he learned that from Comey's firing.

[Ralph L]

Ha! My dad's WS subscription ran out last week.

It would not surprise me if Trump is holding back as a deterrent some corruption investigations for use if the House Dems or others go too far. MAD worked. I just hope the Statue of Lamentations doesn't run out on the worst crimes. They're not effective weapons if they're just rhetorical.

[Tom R]

Tom, I still want to stress that we're on the same side.

I count you as an ally as well. I appreciate it when you challenge something I post. The generals who led the wars we have won over the years didn't always agree with one another on tactics but they had the same goal in mind and no one questioned their patriotism.

[henry]

Interesting footnote from a 1996 opinion:

Justice Ginsburg wrote: "The prospect remains that an overzealous prosecutor or investigator — aware that a person has committed some suspicious acts, but unable to make a criminal case — will create a crime by surprising the suspect, asking about those acts, and receiving a false denial."...

Justice Ginsburg wrote, "the Department of Justice has long noted its reluctance to approve §1001 indictments for simple false denials made to investigators."

https://www.futureofcapitalism.com/2018/12/rbg-to-the-defense-of-flynn

[Threadkiller]

What is that patch you use as an avatar, TK?

Years ago one of the regulars pointed out a Threadkiller Merit Badge to me. I kept the image knowing we would get corralled one day.

It depicts a spool thread that is getting snipped with scissors.

[MissMarple2]

ChiTown has read of that Executive Order, too.

He just texted me. He thinks it goes into effect January 1.

[Threadkiller]

Exactly right, jimmy. Also at no point did Meadows seem to be caught off guard as Jackstraw suggested. Meadows does a pretty good job of spelling out that Huber ignored these two guys until Oversight asked them to appear.

[Captain Hate]

Oh and yes, fuck McSally. She didn't fight, she deserves no reward.

The people of AZ deserve better.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 14, 2018 10:54 AM (bcbK

Really? They elected Flake, Enema and McStain, if you ask me, they deserve nothing!
Posted by: Surfperch at December 14, 2018 11:00 AM (tYPH9)

The AZ GOP was the tool and weapon of McCain. According to sources I trust (because he's Metal AF), any truly conservative types were neutered and drummed out of the party.

It's going to be a fight getting conservative candidates established there. But it's a fight worth having, last thing we need is more California money tainting yet another state.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 14, 2018 11:03 AM (bcbK8)

[MissMarple2]

ChiTown just sent me the link!

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2018-amendments-manual-courts-martial-united-states/

[Tom R]

Plus Tom consistently defends the power of the state over the rights of the accused.

BTW that is an incorrect statement. Civil asset forfeiture is a state’s rights issue. Some form of civil asset forfeiture is legal in 47 states. Whatever policy a state wants to put in place for their state is up to the governor, legislature and citizens of that state. What I am fully in support of is Trump and Sessions adopting the policy at the federal level for the reasons they stated: to oppose organized crime and international terrorism. My confirmation bias also has me convinced with a high degree of confidence that Sessions’ controversial decision was directly related to this Executive Order for a reason that hasn’t become apparent yet but hopefully will soon:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-blocking-property-persons-involved-serious-human-rights-abuse-corruption/

Think Clinton Foundation and Soros' Open Society foundation.

[Alex]

I am also a 4D believer but that Trump is doing foreign policy first. He wants the political adversaries such as Putin, the mullahs Xi to think that he is in a weakened state or that Congress in its Yemen vote yesterday can constrain Trump. The mullahs think they can wait out Trump like Bibi outlasted Obama. These foreign actors poured money into democratic coffers to wage political war versus a hot war.

Meanwhile Trump not budging and barrel of oil is still hovering at $60. Not good for Russia and Iran. A hot war may be coming soon since Iran and Russia can not survive with oil at this rate. Once IRan falls Trump will release all the machinations of Obama and the Clintons.

[Old Lurker]

I think we are all cats jumping at laser beams. One color for our side; another color for the other side. Folks holding the lasers are laughing their asses off at all of us.

James is correct: "wake me up when something actually, you know, happens. Like for real."

[Old Lurker]

A small thing with huge ramifications:

"Betsy DeVos cancels $150 million of student loan debt after losing court battle"

Now sit back and wait for the other three zeros, and the moral hazard it carries.

[Captain Hate]

Ahoy!

The Weekly Standard goes down the American Standard.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 14, 2018 11:26 AM (aKsyK)

[clarice]

I see nothing in that Cts Martial amendment which warrants the hyperbolic raves about it,

[henry]

cancels $150 million of student loan debt

these are the students marooned after Obama shut down Devry Tech?

[Account Deleted]

"I think we are all cats jumping at laser beams. One color for our side; another color for the other side. Folks holding the lasers are laughing their asses off at all of us."

Good Morning, OL!

given my profound level of self-unawareness, i feel no shame at demonstrating acrobatic prowess in the pursuit of lasers.

:P :D

Kev

PS: and to think we're jumping about in a cesspool to boot! (/sarc)

[Tom R]

He can be prickly, but aside from the odious troll no one here is more criticized or personally insulted than him, usually prior to his prickliness.

Iggy,

I appreciate it that at least one person here recognized that I don't throw the first punch.

[Account Deleted]

"the hyperbolic raves about it"

donde 'stan los raves?

[henry]

not sure what to make of this:

Margot Cleveland @ProfMJCleveland
47m

THREAD BREAKING: Federal judge enters order granting DOJ attorneys access to sealed documents in Enron case involving Mueller's "pitbull" Andrew Weissmann. First step in hopefully gaining access to documents.Thanks to local counsel @FultonforTexas @stealthartisan for assist 1/

[henry]

https://twitter.com/ProfMJCleveland/status/1073609838532407297

[jimmyk]

henry @11:13
I'm curious about what J-Pod will say about WS. He's #NeverTrump but seems more sane and good-natured than Kristol and his ilk. Anyway, I'm hoping for a bit of internecine strife amongst that crowd.

[henry]

jimmyk, from his tweets, he's blaming the donors.

[Tom R]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/14/media/weekly-standard-end/index.html

When did neoconservatism become categorized as traditional conservatism?

I guess CNN assumes anyone who gets their news from them is ignorant of the history of the conservative movement.

[Account Deleted]

One for Chi Town: does the student loan market have an associated bond market with it--- like the sub-prime mortgage assfest?

someone's always profiting from garbage instruments, are they not?

will the gummint buy toxic loans from private lenders?

[matt - deplore me if you must]

If it is point to point within the United States, you can put them in a lockable gun case at check in and simply have them as checked baggage. They will be inspected and ammunition has to be shipped separately, but it is pretty straightforward. They inspect and then you lock the case and they take it away on the carousel, where I believe the gnomes have to treat it special like.

I used to shoot sporting clays competitively and traveled out of state somewhat regularly for tournaments. Hunters also check their firearms regularly.

It has been a long while, but perhaps this is an alternative.

The real question is whether it is worth it to fly home commercial from Indy. It's a long trip up there.

But it has been years.

[henry]

timing is a funny thing:

Sykes has a link to J Pod's writeup.

https://twitter.com/sykescharlie/status/1073623037830946816?s=12

[henry]

Kev, from Chitown:

“Sallie Mae” -Student Loan Marketing Association

Now the SLM Corp.

[Account Deleted]

Why Mr. Weissman-- what have we here?

is this tantamount to drawing the line behind Mueller's attack dawg?

IANAL but IHTFP.

[Account Deleted]

Gracias, henry! Gracias, CT!

Merry Christmas!

[jimmyk]

Originally neocons were ex-liberals (mainly Jews, represented by Commentary magazine) who were always anti-Commie, and got rightfully disgusted with the left's appeasement. The 'neo' just meant they were converts from the left. The fathers of Kristol and Podhoretz were among the vanguard. Stormin' Norman is still alive and more sensible and positive about Trump than his son.

I think the anti-Communism morphed into a sympathy to nation-building and such, but the next generation did not get the good genes.

[Alex]

A couple of questions, did not Trump have review of files that were taken from Cohen's office to claim attorney client privilege, if so how are they combing over inaugural expenses.Also what happened to all the secret taping of Cohen of interviews with reporters. Cohen getting convicted makes him a saint in the democrats eyes.

[pagar]

"Given the scandalous earlier texts between the two released by the OIG, this claim is so arrogant that it would be laughable, but for the profound implications of a rogue law enforcement operation covering its tracks, secure in its belief that it will never be prosecuted thanks to Deep State operatives throughout the FBI and DoJ."

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/inspector_general_discovers_that_team_mueller_scrubbed_strzok_and_page_text_messages_during_critical_postelection_period.html

It seems to me that politicians protecting Mueller should be fired.

[henry]

great questions Alex. MSM will get right on that, with their pillow.

[Old Lurker]

Alex, are not those reviews of maybe confidential files done by a "Special Master" appointed by a judge, rather than the clients?

Somebody here will know.

[Extraneus]

Yes, good questions, Alex. Wasn't there supposed to be a highly ethical special master of some sort, deciding which of Cohen's records were ok to forward to prosecutors?

[rse]

UNC 'SILENT SAM' VOTE TODAY: Teaching assistants at the University of North Carolina are refusing to grade thousands of students' work to pressure the system's Board of Governors to shoot down a proposal to spend millions moving a Confederate monument to a more secure spot on the Chapel Hill campus.

— Eighty-five graduate students are on strike, withholding the grades of nearly 2,500 students in Chapel Hill. They plan to demonstrate when the board is scheduled to take up the proposal, which calls for moving "Silent Sam" to a new history and education center on campus that's estimated to cost $5.3 million, around 11 a.m. this morning.

— They have the support of hundreds of professors at UNC Chapel Hill and beyond, who have signed an open letter saying they "support the right of our graduate and post-undergraduate students to speak out against injustice and intolerance in all of its forms."

— Those on strike and their colleagues who support them also signed a letter to parents of UNC students whose grades are being withheld. "Over the last several months, our students have continually inspired us with their courageous activism against the statue and the white supremacy it represents," they wrote, stressing that "educating is more than providing a grade."

— The university has threatened "serious consequences" for the striking instructors. "We trust that our instructors will not act in a way that harms the interests of students and their families, and that these instructors meet the legal, ethical and moral responsibilities for which they have been contracted," UNC Provost Bob Blouin wrote in an email to instructors last week. "Please consider that your failure to meet your responsibilities to your students, including timely submission of final grades, will result in serious consequences."

Do what we wish say employees or we will shut down your institution.

[Alex]

That is why Trump's presidency looks like a soap opera. Cohen lives in Trump tower and does not start sentence until March. By that time I think the whole charade of what has been going on will be exposed. Same as Amorosa taping her firing or airplane ride with Cohen. These stupidities have been created by Trump as subterfuge and deception to the media and to make him look foolish with Putin, XI and the mullahs. Trump has been planting these stories not the opposition.

[henry]

Occam's Razor slices against that conclusion.

[clarice]

OL, I seem to recall that the judge in that case appointed a special master to review the Cohen records.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he
asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money
from you, I'm doing community service this week.'
The florist was pleased and left the shop.
When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a
'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill,
the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing
community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop.
The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank
you' card and a dozen doughnuts waiting for him at his door.
Then a Member of Congress came in for a haircut, and when he went to
pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from
you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Congress
was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen
Members of Congress lined up waiting for a free hair cut And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between
the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

[Tom R]

If Trump did the following I would have to be taken to the ER for busting my nuts laughing so hard.

Trump should look the American public in the eyes and go full mea culpa and admit that he has lived a playboy lifestyle his entire adult life and that meant he sometimes paid "hush money" to prevent his mistresses from going public with stories of his escapades. He should point out this all occurred before he was elected President and that the entire country knew of his playboy lifestyle when they elected him President.

He should then point out to the American public the existence of the Congressional slush fund that was used as "hush money" to victims of sexual misbehavior by members of Congress. List the names of members of Congress and how much taxpayer money was used to buy the silence of their victims. Trump should also call for Congress to repeal the law that created the slush fund.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/11/27/sexual-harassment-fund-exposes-congress-editorials-debates/898008001/

[Alex]

Even with special master Trump side can make claim of attorney client privilege on certain documents and inaugural expenses should have been covered. As to shutdown, Trump has upper hand since only people really effected are non essential government employees since other parts of government remain open and public does not feel effects. That is the democratic base and they can not afford missing paychecks.

[clarice]

https://www.theepochtimes.com/members-of-congress-will-now-have-to-personally-pay-to-settle-sexual-misconduct-claims_2739191.html

[henry]

No public accounting of past abusers?

[Account Deleted]

"The legislation mandates a $300,000 cap on liability for each lawmaker if a court has assessed the damages and no limit on liability for settlements."

feature of the sexual misconduct legislation.

hmm.

[Account Deleted]

that ponies left the barn, or so it would seem, henry. note Conyers' sitch. "because we said so!"

[Jane]

Good one Stephanie!

[Extraneus]

Cohen: I Hope to Be Remembered as Someone Who Helped ‘Bring This Country Back Together’

"I think the pressure of the job is much more than what he thought it was going to be. It's not like the Trump organization where he would bark out orders and people would blindly follow what he wanted done. There's a system here. He doesn't understand the system," Cohen said in the interview, which aired Friday on "Good Morning America."

...

Cohen claims then-candidateTrump directed him to arrange payments that violated campaign finance laws. During an interview with Fox News on Thursday, the president said he "never directed" Cohen "to do anything wrong." He also claimed his former attorney "made a deal [with prosecutors] to embarrass me."

During his interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Cohen repeated what he said in his guilty plea in August, that Trump told him to pay the women because he "was very concerned about how this would affect the election."

"I'm done with the lying. I'm done being loyal to President Trump. My first loyalty belongs to my wife, my daughter, my son and this country," Cohen told Stephanopoulos.

I'm failing to understand how a lawyer can claim that his client told him to break the law, so he did what the client told him to do, and that therefore the client is guilty of breaking the law. Wouldn't a real lawyer say, "Dude, we can't do that - it's against the law"?

[henry]

Kev, everything else in the universe gets hacked... why not the Congress Sex Slushfund?

[lyle]

Everything/everyone is gaslighting us these days, Ext. It’s the only explanation.

[Old Lurker]

Henry, just ask the Awans for the records.

[peter]

in the words of Thurston Howell, III, "Ye gads! A Yale Man!"

One of my son's friends goes to Yale. Every time I see him, I bring up that gag, which the Gilligan's Island writers liked so much they used it twice.

[Jane]

What time do the Flynn docs have to be delivered by?

[Captain Hate]

I'm failing to understand how a lawyer can claim that his client told him to break the law, so he did what the client told him to do, and that therefore the client is guilty of breaking the law. Wouldn't a real lawyer say, "Dude, we can't do that - it's against the law"?

And why that isn't protected information. Levin had Cohen pegged since day 1 as an unscrupulous dirtbag who deserves to spend significant time behind bars.

[henry]

Jane, per Chitown Lurker, 3 PM EDT deadline.

[Extraneus]

Pretty sure it's 3:00, Jane.

[Extraneus]

Btw, this not working thing is quite relaxing.

[Captain Hate]

Congrats, Ext.

[henry]

FYI:

The Wall Street Journal @WSJ
3m

Facebook says up to 1,500 apps may have had improper access to users’ unshared photos

[Jane]

So nothing will come out today. And I bet they don't get there til at least 5:00 PM

[Tom R]

I was not aware of this when I posted my 12:27.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/39334/members-congress-will-now-have-pay-out-pocket-emily-zanotti

[henry]

Santa training video (found by Chitown Lurker):

https://twitter.com/dancovfefe1/status/1073637932328611840?s=12

[Tom R]

Anymore?

https://www.dailywire.com/news/39348/amy-schumer-im-not-going-look-super-fable-anymore-hank-berrien

[rse]

Has anyone posted this? https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/272205/future-female-%E2%80%93-christine-ford-effect-dawn-perlmutter

[Extraneus]

Thanks, Captain and other well-wishers. I wonder how long I can stand the leisure life...

[Captain Hate]

The Sea Cuck takes one more torpedo:

http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=378671

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Now this is utter speculation but I believe I can still state without fear of contradiction, no small number of these moralizing hacks in congress whining about Trump have their names inscribed on that slush fund's payoff page.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

That torpedo was nuclear tipped, CH.

[Old Lurker]

Ext " I wonder how long I can stand the leisure life..."

Ask me, ask me!

Ext, focus first on organizing your shop, then on filling out your tool collection (if your parachute was golden enough, throw away everything with a cord and get pro quality battery tools). Then stock up with parts to "things" (just in case).

You will have gotten there when you can do five fixit projects in a row without borrowing a tool or going to Home Depot for any parts.

[Porchlight]

Jim Backus = underrated actor

[henry]

World ends.

https://fox6now.com/2018/12/14/governor-walker-to-take-action-on-lame-duck-bills-friday-afternoon/

[Old Lurker]

Henry "Gov. Scott Walker signs Republican lame-duck legislation"

Will we see Trump do the same next week?

Oh wait.

There isn't any.

[henry]

but there is a:

new thread.

[Captain Hate]

HOF zombie:

Ace is dancing on the Weekly Standard's grave, then pulling down his pants and shitting on it, then digging up the magazine's corpse and using a lipstick to draw grotesque clown faces on its lifeless head, then eating a picnic next to the empty grave with the dolled-up corpse as an unwitting participant, playing tea party games with it, then skullfucking the corpse in an empty eye-socket, and leaving it out in the open for the hyenas to devour in the night.

Posted by: zombie at December 14, 2018 01:14 PM (c+2jX)

[peter]

I know what you mean, ext, I've taken three naps so far today.

[Another Bob]

“positive news in MAGA's favor”

You’ve missed the point again.

I want positive ACTION, not blah blah.

Unless of course you can tell me who went to jail today.